NERICA (New Rice for Africa): Hope for Food Security in Africa

The Panel discussion was moderated by Ambassador Kaoru Ishikawa, Ambassador for Civil Society of Japan. After the short opening remarks by H.E. Ms. Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Diabre, Associate Administrator of UNDP and Mr. Johnson, Chairman of Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and Vice President of the World Bank on their respective involvement in NERICA in Africa, Dr. Nwanze, Director General of WARDA briefed how NERICA has been developed in its institute followed by a video presentation.

After the presentation by two farmers from Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea respectively on their first-hand experiences on NERICA growing, Dr. Ryuichi Ishii, Professor of the Nihon University and Mr. Fujimura, Senior Advisor on South-South Cooperation, UNDP commented on the specific nature of NERICA. Professor Ishii commented on the sustainable farming practices with NERICA, which was also reinforced by the comment of Dr. Jones, Executive Secretary, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa. Mr. Fujimura posed questions to the two farmers on how NERICA has changed their way of living.

Dr. Jones emphasized the importance of continuing the research on different kinds of NERICA suitable to varied weather and land conditions in Africa and concluded with a determination to disseminate NERICA as one of the means to alleviate hunger in Africa.

The discussion was concluded by the closing remarks of Mr. Takehiko Endo, Senior Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, who emphasized Japan's determination to support NERICA dissemination in Africa.

At the NERICA tasting lunch, two different kinds of NERICA rice were served.